D20 Board Gets New President: Amy Shandy Resigns, Susan Payne Steps In
Academy District 20 is heading into the fourth week of school with new leadership on its Board of Education.
Board President Amy Shandy officially stepped down at the district's September 3 meeting โ her final session after serving as board president. The reason: she and her husband Ty are relocating out of state for a job opportunity he recently accepted.
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When Shandy handed over the gavel, it went to Vice President Susan Payne, who is now the D20 Board of Education president. At the same September 3 meeting, the board also appointed Kelli Hawkins to fill the vacancy left by Shandy's departure. Hawkins will serve through November 2027, completing the remainder of Shandy's term.
For D20 families, the day-to-day operations of the district are not affected by this leadership change. School is in session and the 2026-27 academic year is underway. However, the board serves as the governing body for the district's major policy decisions, budget approvals, and superintendent oversight โ so changes in board composition are worth tracking over the course of the year.
Where D20 Is in the School Year
Academy District 20 opened the 2026-27 school year on August 17. Families are now four weeks into the year, past the initial adjustment period and settling into fall routines. The next board meeting will be Payne's first as president and Hawkins' first as an appointed member.
D20 serves families across north Colorado Springs in a range of school communities from elementary through high school.
What's Next
For parents who follow D20 governance closely, watch for Payne and Hawkins to establish their priorities in the coming months. The fall semester is typically when budget planning and curriculum decisions for the following year begin to take shape at the board level. D20's website at asd20.org is the best place to find meeting agendas, dates, and livestream information for upcoming board sessions.
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